Bottle-filling mechanism.



N. M. LA PORTE.

BOULEHLLING MECHANISM.

` APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 19H. 1,166,607, Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

4UNITED sTATEs PATENT onnicii.

NORBERT M. LA PORTE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE CROWN CORK & SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A COR- PORATION OF MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-FILLING MECHAN-ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

Application inea March 29. 1911. seriaiiio. 617,603.

. capping machines, though if desired it may be used in other relations.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved filling mechamsm for bottles and like articles by Which a predetermined quantity, of liquid may be measured out from a suitable liquid supply and delivered to the bottle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved `filling mechanism which shall deliver a predetermined quantity of yliquid to the bottle or like article to be filled, which quantity may be varied, so that the mechanism may be employed for accurately filling bottles intended to hold a quart, pint or half-pint.

It is a. further object of the invention to provide such a. filling mechanism to coperate with a capping mechanism so that while an article is being filled a 4similar 'filled article may be capped.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent the invention in one of its preferred forms- Figurel is a side elevation partly in section of the improved filling mechanism and a capping mechanism; Fig. 2 is a view partly in section on an enlarged scale ofkpart of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the parts being shown in filling and capping position. Figs. 3 and Il are detail views of the measuring device showing a mans for varying the quantity of liquid measured out. and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

. Referring now to the drawings, there is provided bv thepresent invention ay liquid supplying means from which the liquid is measured out, which may vary widely in construction. As shown, these means include a tank 1, of suitable construction and capacity, which may be supported by frames or standards 2 rising from suitable supports 3. .The tank 1 is in communication with a suitable source of liquid supply, as pipe 4, through which liquid is supplied to thel receptacle, the amount of liquid so supplied being controlled by a float valve indicated generally by the numeral 5. In the best constructions the tank is provided with a closing means as a removable cover 6.

Means are provided for measuring out a predetermined quantity of liquid from the tank 1, and connections for delivering-such liquid to the bottle or other similar article to be filled. In the best constructions, a measuring device is employed located in the tank and normally 1field below the surface of the liquid in the tank, so as to be kept normally filled with liquid. The connections by which the measured out liquid is delivered to the article-to be filled includes means for moving the measuring device out of the liquid in the tank, and a filling conduit to'which the liquid measured out by such measuring device is delivered by the measuring device, these means, in the best constructions, being actuated by the article to be filled. As shown, there is provided a receptacle in the form of a cup 10, which is capacitated to hold. when full, the maximum amount of liquid which it is desired to measure out, as, for instance, a quart, and which is arranged to be'normally, held below the surface of the 4liquid in the tank. Suitable means for so holding the cup 10 are provided.. As illustrated, the cup 10 is screwed or otherwise secured so as to form a tight joint on one end of a tube 11 which has a vertical sliding movement through the bottom of the tank 1, suitable packing 12 being provided w'here the tube passes through the bottom of the tank. Extending downward from the bottom of the tank is located a tube or sleeve 13 suitably secured bv bolts 14in which-sleeve the tube` 11 is adapted to slide. The sleeve 13 thus acts as a. guide and is provided with a. flange or collar 15 between which and a flange or collar 16.011 the end of the tube 11 yopposite the cup is located a spring 17 which acts bottom of the tank below. the surface of the liquid therein. l

The cup l() is lifted or raised above the surface of the liquid,''thereby measuring out a predetermined quantity of such liquid by forcing` the tube 11 upward against the spring 17, this upward movement beingl effected preferably by the article to be filled, as, in the present instance, by a bottle, the neck of the bottle contacting with the flange 16 before referred to, which is of a little larger circumference than the bottle neck.

The connections provided by which the liquid measured out by the measuring cup 10 is delivered to the bottle' may be varied. Preferably these connectionsare of such character as to enter the bottle or other article to be filled, and so arranged that the liquid from the measuring cup is delivered directly thereto, so that the quantity measured out by the measuring cup will be delivered Without loss of liquid during the de livering operation, and the'exact quantity measured out by the measuring cup will be delivered to the bottle. As illustrated, there is lprovided a filling conduit 18 which is stationary relatively to the,measuring receptacle 10, this filling conduit comprising a hollow tube adapted to fit within the tube 11 before referred to with a sliding fit, and extending through the tank vertically and suitably secured at its upper end, as by threaded plug 19 and nut 20, in the cover 6.

The filling conduit' 18 is thus positioned within the measuring cup or receptacle 10, and the cup is adapted to be moved along the conduit. The conduit is provided with a filling opening'or openings 21, located above the surface of the liquid in the tank, to which openings the cup 10 delivers the liquid measured out by it as the cup is raised. The lower or delivery end of the filling conduit is somewhat rounded ofil in order that it may more certainly and easily pass into the bottle neck. As shown, the delivery end consists of a plug 22, this plug being inserted into the conduit and provided with discharge openings 23 through which liquid is discharged into. the bottle.

The measuring device so far described is capacitated to hold when full the maximum predetermined quantity of liquid which it is desirable to measure out and deliver tothe articles to be filled. In many instances it is desirable that a predetermined quantity of liquid less than4 the maximum bemeasured out and delivered, and means for effecting this are provided by the present invention, which may be of any suitable character. Preferably there are provided fillingplugs 25 of dimensions sufficient to displace a certaint quantity of liquid. leaving the required quantity in the cup. rlfhese plugs 25 are of such character that they may be readily inmodena serted-and removed from theA measuring cup. As shown, the plugs are provided with slots f26, by which they can be inserted in the cup `around the conduit 18, the conduit 18 pass ing through the slots.

`With theconstruction so far described, it will be seen that a very simpleand efficient mechanism has been devised for measuring out a predetermined quantity of liquid from a suitable supply and accurately delivering the liquid so measured out to the article to be filled. While the articles might be presented, if desired, to the filling mechanism by hand, in the best constructions there will be provided means for supporting the article and means for moving the support to bring' the articles to filling position. lin the particular construction illustrated, there is provided a support 30 suitably mounted on the standards 2 before referred to, this support being recessed to-receive a table 32 provided with a bottle holding recess 33 which holds the article while itis being filled. This table may be variously supported. As shown, the table 32 is carried on the upper end of a piston 34 so as to move with it. v

The piston 34 is adapted to work in a cyl- -inder 35 suitably secured as by bolts 36 to the support 30, and is operated in any suitable manner, as by compressed` air, or hydraulic pressure, through pipe 37 and valve 38, and inlet and exhaust pipes 39 and 40.

tThe table 32 is properly located below the end 22 of the filling conduit 18 before referred to and when raised by piston 34 the delivery end of the filling conduit enters a bottle carried bythe table. To prevent the table from rotating and so carrying the bottle out of register with the end of the filling conduit, the piston is slotte`d as shown at 41 to receive a set screw 42, this set screw preventing the support from yrotating and providing a stop for the piston and preventing it from rising too far.

If desired, the invention may be employed in conjunction With capping mechanism, and

tid

is so intended to be used. When it is so l employed, the capping mechanism will be so arranged that While one bottle' is being filled, another like bottle will be capped. As

shown, there is provided a capping mechanismv 45 of any suitable type, which is or may be supported on a bracket 46 extending from the tank 1. Caps are supplied to this capping mechanism through a cap`supply conduit 47 connecting with a hopper 48 carried on a bracket 49 likewise extending from the tank 1. When this capping mechanism is employed, the table 32 before referred to is constructed with a second bottle holding re-` cess 50 for holding a bottle to be capped. When this construction is employed, the bottle to be filled and the bottle to be capped are placed on the support and the support lifted, bringing the bottles carried thereby simultaneously into filling position and capping position. y

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown, but that changes and variations may be made in the same witho-ut departing therefrom.

What is claimed is 1. In a liquid filling mechanism, the combination of a tank, a measuring receptacle located in the tank for measuring out a predetermined quantity of liquid, a sleeve on which the measuring receptacle is mounted, said sleeve extending through the bottom of'the tank, and a lling conduit in the sleeve providedwith lling openings, the sleeve being .movable to cause the measuring receptacle' to deliver its liquid to the filling` openings of the conduit.

2. In a-iilling mechanism, the combinationof a tank, ...a measuring receptacle located in the tank for measuring out a predetermined quantity of liquid, a sleeve on which .the measuring receptacle is mounted, a filling conduit in the sleeve provided with filling openings, a support for the article to be filled, and'means for moving the support to cause an article thereon to move the sleeve to bring the measuring receptacle into position openin of the conduit and through it to the article.' v

3. In a' filling mechanism, the combination of a source of liquid supply, a measuring receptacle for measuring out a predetermined quantity of liquid from the source of supply, a stationary filling conduit to-which the measuring receptacle is arranged to deliver, a support for the article to be` lled, and means for moving the i support sothat the movement of the supto deliver its liquid to the filling port acts to introduce the filling conduit into the article carried by the support and causes ythe article to move the receptacle into position to deliver its contents to the filling conduit. v

4. In a filling mechanism, the combination of a source of liquid-supply, a measuring receptacle for measuring outra predetermined quantity of liquid fsiom the source of supply, a stationary filling conduit to which the measuring receptacle isarranged to deliver, a support for the article to -be filled and means for moving it, and connections whereby the movement of the article introduces the filling' conduit into the article and actuates the measuring receptacle to cause it to deliver. the liquid to thefilling" conduit. v

5. In a filling mechanism, the combination of a `tank for holding liquid, a measuring receptacle located inthe tank and normally held below the surface of the liquid, a sta'- tionary filling conduit to which the measuring receptacle is arranged to deliver, a support for the article to ,be filled, means for moving the support lto introduce the fillingA conduit into the article and to cause the article to actuate the measuring receptale to cause it to deliver its liquid to said llling conduit and to move the filled article away from the conduit, and a spring for returning the measuring receptacle to normal position when the filled article is moved away from the conduit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presencev of two subscribing witnesses. A

NORBERT M.- LA PORTE. Witnesses: v

WILLIAM T. HALL, CHAS. A. PUMPHREY.- 

